How To Protect Hearing While Swimming or Diving
Water activities bring joy and exercise to people each year. However, frequent swimmers and divers need to be aware of how water exposure can affect their ear health. When it comes to protecting your hearing while enjoying water sports, a few simple steps can prevent painful infections and potential hearing damage.
Water and Your Ears: Understanding the Risk
Your ears have a delicate structure that can be affected by water exposure. The ear canal is warm and dark, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to grow when moisture gets trapped. Pressure changes during diving can stress your eardrums and middle ear structures.
When water remains in your ears after swimming, it can wash away the protective earwax that naturally guards against infection, leaving your ears vulnerable to what doctors call "otitis externa," commonly known as swimmer's ear. Symptoms include itching, pain, redness, and sometimes temporary hearing loss.
People who swim regularly face higher risks of developing these problems. Chlorine in pools can also irritate the ear canal, making infections more likely if water becomes trapped.
Effective Ways to Protect Your Ears
Quality Swim Plugs
Swim plugs serve as a barrier that keeps water out of your ear canals, and they come in different styles:
Custom-molded plugs offer the best protection because they're made to fit your specific ear shape. While more expensive than off-the-shelf options, they provide superior comfort and water blocking.
Silicone putty plugs create a watertight seal by molding to your outer ear canal, and they're relatively inexpensive and available at most drugstores.
Pre-molded swim plugs come in various sizes and typically feature flanges that create a seal. Finding the right size is important for effectiveness.
Swimmer's Caps
A swimmer's cap that covers your ears adds another layer of protection. While not completely waterproof on their own, caps can help hold plugs in place and reduce the amount of water that reaches your ears.
Drying Techniques After Swimming
Tilt your head to each side to allow water to drain naturally; gently pull on your earlobe in different directions to straighten the ear canal and help water flow out. Dry the outer ear with a soft towel.
Never insert anything into your ear canal, including cotton swabs, which can push water deeper and damage your ears. For stubborn trapped water, try making a vacuum with your palm. Press your palm against your ear and gently push in and out to create pressure that helps water escape.
Ear Drops for Swimmers
Over-the-counter swimmer's ear drops help dry excess water and prevent bacteria growth. These usually contain alcohol and sometimes mild acid that restores your ear's natural acidic environment, making it harder for bacteria to survive.
For frequent swimmers, applying drops before and after swimming can be helpful. Simply tilt your head, apply a few drops, wait 30 seconds, and then tilt to let excess drain out.
Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore
It's important to know when to seek medical advice for your hearing health. If you experience any of the following symptoms: ear pain that worsens when touching your ear, itching inside the ear canal, redness or swelling, fluid drainage from the ear, muffled hearing or hearing loss, or a fever, don't hesitate to reach out to a hearing health professional.
These signs could indicate swimmer's ear or another condition that requires prompt attention. Early treatment is needed to prevent complications and preserve your hearing.
Special Considerations for Scuba Diving
Scuba diving creates additional concerns due to pressure changes. The Valsalva maneuver, pinching your nose closed while gently blowing, can help equalize pressure in your ears during descent. If you can't equalize pressure, stop descending and try again or surface slowly if necessary.
Never dive when you have a cold, allergies, or ear infection, as these conditions can block your Eustachian tubes and prevent proper pressure equalization.
Your Hearing Matters
Taking care of your ears while enjoying water activities doesn't have to be complicated, as simple preventive steps can protect your hearing for years to come. If you experience recurring ear problems despite these precautions, consider scheduling a hearing evaluation with our hearing health professional, who can provide personalized advice for your specific needs.